The Bermuda Olympic Association (BOA) announced Team Bermuda for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, taking place in Dakar, Senegal, from October 31st to November 13th, 2026.
Four athletes will represent Bermuda in three sports: athletics, swimming and triathlon.
In Dakar they will compete against the best athletes in their age group from around the world. Selection was highly competitive, and the BOA is extremely proud of these young athletes, who will wear Bermuda's colors on the international stage.
The delegation will be led by Chef de Mission Ashley Yearwood, who will oversee the team throughout the Games, working alongside Games management in Dakar to support the athletes across all three sports.
Team Bermuda Athletics - Tatiana Sousa Swimming - Maggie Mewett and Noah Maranzana Triathlon - Gianluca Bortoli Coaches Terry-Lynn Paynter, Geri Mewett, Michael Harlow
Ashley Yearwood said: “As Chef de Mission for Team Bermuda, I am honored to travel to Dakar, Senegal, to support and lead our young Bermudian athletes as they represent our island at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. This is a truly historic edition of the Youth Olympic Games—the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil—and it provides a wonderful opportunity for our athletes to compete, learn, build friendships and experience the rich culture and hospitality of Senegal.”
“I am both honoured and grateful for the opportunity to represent Bermuda at the Youth Olympic games. When starting Javelin, I never dreamed I would get to compete at such a high level. But now that I am, I will make every effort to implement technique and utilise the strength I have built up this off-season,” noted Tatiana Sousa.
Triathlete Gianluca Bortoli said: “I am excited to have been selected to compete at the Youth Olympic Games. Competing at these Games has been a goal of mine for the last two years, and to earn selection after racing against Bermuda’s and the region’s top juniors makes this a special accomplishment for me. It will be an incredible experience to compete at such a high-level event, and I hope it will be a huge development opportunity.”
“Representing Bermuda in any meet is an honor and a privilege, one far greater than any experience before, but to do so on the world stage at the Youth Olympic Games is unreal. I am beyond excited to be able to compete and represent my country in the YOG and do my best in every event I do,” as described by swimmer Noah Maraganza.
Teammate Maggie Mewett stated. “Competing at the Youth Olympics is an incredible honor and I’m so proud to have the opportunity to represent Bermuda on an international stage. I’ve worked really hard to get to this point and I’m excited to see that hard work pays off while competing alongside some of the best young athletes from around the world. I hope to make Bermuda proud and enjoy every moment of this amazing experience!”
“The Youth Olympic Games are a vital steppingstone for our most promising young athletes,” said BOA President Peter Dunne. “Tatiana, Maggie, Noah and Gianluca have earned their places through hard work and commitment, and they carry the pride of the whole island with them. We also thank the coaches, families and national federations whose support has brought them to this point. We know they will represent Bermuda with distinction in Dakar.”
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Majors takes whistle as US Virgin Islands shut out Saint Martin
IslandStats.com
Bermudian referee Amaury Majors took centre stage in the middle as the United States Virgin Islands claimed a 2-0 victory over Saint Martin in Concacaf Nations League action.
Taking charge of the League C, Group C encounter at the Bethlehem Soccer Stadium in St. Croix, the FIFA-listed official presided over a disciplined and competitive contest on Caribbean soil.
The hosts produced an efficient performance to control proceedings and keep Saint Martin at bay, securing a two-goal cushion alongside a clean sheet to claim maximum points in front of their home supporters.
For Majors, the appointment marks another prominent regional assignment, continuing the strong representation of Bermudian match officials across senior Concacaf competitions.
Friday, September 25, 2026
Nine-man Bermuda Suffer Late Collapse against Guadeloupe
IslandStats.com
Bermuda 1 Guadeloupe 2
Guadeloupe struck twice in the closing minutes to condemn nine-man Bermuda to a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat in an ill-tempered Concacaf Nations League encounter at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia.
Bermuda Starting Line-Up: Milai Perott, Deniche Hill, Harry Twite, Lejuan Simmons, Jorj Dublin, Ne-Jai Tucker, Luke Robinson (Zeiko Lewis 46th), Djair Parfitt (Blayz Borgesson 63rd), Sincere Hall (Justin Donawa 63rd) , Ajani Burchall (London Steede-Jackson 70th), Enrique Russell (Diego Richardson 86th) - Substitutes: - Jahquil Hill, Coleridge Fubler, Emeer Peets, Brighton Morrison, Elisha Darrell, Riley Robinson, Caleb McDowall, - Guadeloupe Starting Line-Up: - D. Rouyard, F. Geran (M. Alphonse 66th), K. Montantin, Y. Raddas, S. Darase, T. Davillars (K. Giblaca 46th), D. Boisné, W. Francillonne, J. Gamby (D. Capraja 59th), A. Plumain, T. Arconte - Substitutes: - A. Silo, M. Philemon, M. Citronnelle, A. Vulgaire, M. Cysique, W. Jacques, H. Dezac, L. Mausse
Bermuda appeared on course for a gritty League B, Group B victory after Enrique Russell converted an 18th-minute penalty, having seen Ajani Burchall brought down clumsily inside the box.
Bermuda defended resolutely to protect their lead through to the interval, but the match unraveled in a dramatic second half defined by dismissals and goalkeeping errors.
The turning point arrived in the 64th minute when Jorj Dublin was shown a straight red card for a reckless high tackle, leaving Bermuda with an uphill battle to protect their slender advantage.
Despite wholesale defensive alterations from the bench, the pressure eventually told six minutes from time. Goalkeeper Milai Perott failed to turn a stinging drive behind for a corner, allowing substitute Allan Vulgaire to react sharpest and bundle home the 84th-minute equalizer.
Four minutes later, heartbreak turned to despair for Bermuda. Perott was unable to gather a testing cross into the area, spilling the ball directly into the path of Djamalee Boisné, who gleefully steered in the 88th-minute winner.
A frantic finale saw Bermuda’s frustrations boil over. Six minutes into stoppage time, Lejuan Simmons received a second yellow card, leaving his side to finish the match with nine men as Guadeloupe held on to snatch all three points.
Friday, September 25, 2026
Nusum Proud of Bermuda's Display Despite 'hard to take' Defeat
IslandStats.com
Bermuda head coach John Barry Nusum expressed immense pride in his squad’s application and tactical discipline despite suffering a stinging 2-1 defeat to Guadeloupe in Saint Lucia.
Speaking post-match to Islandstats.com, Nusum reflected on an encounter where Bermuda dictated the tempo for long stretches before being reduced to 10 men and conceding two late goals.
Addressing the absence of key talisman Nahki Wells, Nusum clarified that travel logistics dictated the decision to leave him out of the matchday squad.
"His flight... the timing of his flight got in late, so we didn't want to put him in a position where he gets injured," Nusum explained. "He'll be ready for the next game, so it's all good."
Despite the heartbreak of leaving empty-handed after holding the lead, the head coach highlighted the execution and composure shown throughout the opening 45 minutes.
"It's hard to say after taking a 2-1 loss, but I was very proud of how the boys applied themselves tonight," Nusum said. "First half, I thought we commanded the first half. We dictated the speed, the tempo of the game. We were able to play around their press.
"There were a lot of things that we spoke about during the week that we wanted to apply, and I think the first half we showed it. They didn't have really too many chances—they had a couple of, I think, penalty shouts, but again that's their guys diving in the box that the ref waved off.
"We had a good spell of having possession, being able to play around them. We got a couple of opportunities that we probably should have finished to kill the game off in the first half. Right at half-time, right before the whistle, we had a header from Jair that the keeper saved on the line. So again, we were doing the right things, applying ourselves the right way."
The momentum shifted dramatically in the 64th minute when Jorj Dublin received a straight red card, leaving Bermuda to navigate the remainder of the contest shorthanded.
"When you get a red card in the second half, it shifts the momentum. It shifts the way we can play," Nusum noted. "I think that red card really hurt us and put them in a bit of ascendancy, having numbers on us.
"But if I'm being honest with you, I was very proud of the way the boys defended and applied themselves. We never really felt a threat for a good 20 minutes after the red card, as they were just trying to lump balls into the box, and our keeper was dealing with it and our defenders were dealing with it.
"Obviously, the two goals in that quick span is something that we've been talking about making sure we kill out of our game, and we can't afford that. But the boys worked tirelessly hard, so the fatigue then actually comes into play."
Nusum also singled out the performance of the team's younger contingent, who shouldered significant responsibility on the international stage.
"I'm very excited for these guys and where we're going to go in the future. We have some younger players behind them coming in as well, so I'm excited to have this new era coming in. They're excited, they're good players, they get on the ball, they're comfortable. They ticked a lot of the boxes that we're looking for out of our young players."
Nusum also praised debutant Blaiz Borgesson, who was handed a baptism of fire under difficult circumstances.
"We got a first cap for Blaiz Borgesson tonight. Unfortunately for him, his moment when he came on we were already down a man, so he had to do a lot of extra running and a lot of work. But again, he put his head down, did the work that we needed out of him in the moment, and all credit to him."
Thursday, September 24, 2026
Burnley prospect Borgesson earns maiden senior Bermuda call-up
IslandStats.com
Burnley academy winger Blayz Borgesson has received his first senior international call-up for Bermuda ahead of their upcoming Concacaf Nations League campaign.
The 18-year-old, who celebrated his birthday last week, has progressed through the island nation's youth ranks at under-15, under-17, and under-20 levels.
He now steps up to John Barry Nusum's senior squad for a demanding schedule of four fixtures across 11 days.
"It feels amazing," Borgesson said. "I'm obviously grateful, and I can't wait to try and make my friends, family, and everybody else proud.
"Playing for Bermuda U20s in February was a great experience, because I was playing against older, faster, and stronger boys.
"I'll be playing with some professional players like Nahki Wells, who plays in League One, who can teach me and hopefully I'll learn new stuff."
Born in Somerset Village, in Sandys Parish, Borgesson lived in Bermuda until the age of nine before spending three years in Spain. Following a brief return to his homeland, he relocated to England in 2023.
His trajectory accelerated after joining Radcliffe FC's academy in 2025 alongside his college studies, eventually securing a summer switch to Turf Moor.
The teenager has made an immediate impression in Lancashire, featuring as a substitute in every under-21 fixture this season while also making four appearances for Tony Philliskirk’s under-18 side—netting goals against both Leeds United and Liverpool.
Bermuda begin their Nations League slate on Friday against Guadeloupe at home, before travelling to face Saint Lucia. They conclude the international window with a double-header against Barbados.
Borgesson is one of five youth-team players across Burnley's under-21 and under-18 setups to earn international recognition this month.
